Photographic vacuum squeegee and negative holder



y 1935- w. c. HUEBNER 2,000,390

PHOTOGRAPHIC VACUUM SQUEEGEE AND NEGATIVE HOLDER Filed Dec. 23, 1935 Patented May 7, 1935 I v I i v William 0. lllebner, New me. m

- Application December 2:. 1m, sum No. 103.141 10 Claims. (CI. 95-40) This invention relates to improvements in considerable diii'lculty in handling the same photographic vacuum squeegee and negative hold-v the registering machine to the photo-composing er usrrso STATES PATENT basics in the art or photo-composing or phbto-meforegoing disadvantages encountered in so-called 5 chanical printing, certain classes of work necesblack and white work where a given image or sub- 5 essential that each film be pressed intimately into glass negatives wherein the usual clamps or nega- 1o tain this result by the use 01' ordinary rubber strip improved holder embodying a relatively thick squeegees or roller squeegees. Such prior methbut more or less flexible film onto which the negago there is great danger oi shifting the applied fllm position oi the negative on the holder with reterso from its predetermined registered position and ence to the-usual travel lines of the photo-comhence destroying the register when the applied posing machine. film is finally pressed and cemented to its mount. Another object of the invention is to provide 2 provide a squeegee which is actuated by air prespreceding paragraph wherein the improved holda sure or vacuum for smoothing down and pressing er may be employed in conjunction with vacuum into full surface intimate contact, negative films in eiiecting the necessary intimate surface consmoothing and pressing into contact. A further object 01' the invention is to provide More specifically, an object of the invention is a device or means which may be interchangeabLv to provide a squeegee particularly adapted for used either as a squeegee or as a negative holder photographic work wherein is employed a relain the manner indicated in the preceding objects tively heavy but semi-flexible fllm having assoof invention.

ciated therewith air sealing means or gasket on Other objects of the invention will more clear- '5 one side with provision for connection to a source ly appear from the description and claims hereinoi. suction so that, as the air is exhausted from after i'ollowing. beneath the relatively heavy semi-flexible film, In the drawing forming a part or this specificaunderlying negative films may be pressed into tion, Figure 1 is a front, elevational view 01' an 40 intimate contact with their mounts without ar As is also well known to those skilled in the holder. Figure 2 is a vertical, sectional view, art oi photo-composing, it has heretofore been upon an enlarged scale and portions broken out, a

produced, the film or negative plate then being corresponding to the section line l4 01' Figure 1 50 5 holders are relatively expensive; there is constant to thickness in order to more clearly illustrate danger of the negative film or plate being jarred the details of construction. sufliciently to destroy the registered position 01' In carrying out the invention, a supporting to be used therewith. The supporting member A will be made of transparent material and, preferably, will comprise a relatively thick film such as pyrolin acetate or the like and of such thickness as to be semi-rigid or, stated otherwise, semifiexible. That is, the supporting film A will be of such characteristic as to normally maintain its planar condition but nevertheless of flexibility that, when subjected to unbalanced air pressures on opposite sides thereof, will flex without fracture and enough to effect the desired pressure on the film or plate against a mount. On one side of the supporting film A and extending around the periphery thereof, is provided means for sealing ofi air over the main central area of the film A. Said means preferably comprises a thin layer or gasket of rubber 10 of rectangular outline, the rubber gasket being also preferably extended beyond the edges of the film support A on the sides and top thereof as illustrated in Figure 1. Around the inner edges of the sealing gasket proper ill on the same side of the film A, is applied an additional strip of preferably rubber H, having a corrugated or channeled exposed surface i H so that, as the air is exhausted from the under side of the supporting film, the air can be withdrawn from the channeled surface II I, thus minimizing any possibility of leakage. As will be understood, the secondary strip Ii may, if desired. be formed integrally with the outer sealirig gasket proper Hl.

Outside of the available work area defined by the inner edges of the sealing strip H but inside of the outermost edge of the sealing gasket proper l0, provision is made for connection to a source of suction to the work area or space by means of a suitable hollow light bushing H extended through the supporting film A and preferably flanged at its inner end and sealed to the film A. The bushing i 2 is extended sufficiently to the outer side of the film A so as to be available for attachment thereto of a vacuum hose l3.

Considering the device as so far described, it is evident that the same may be employed as a vacuum squeegee by laying the supporting film A with its associated air sealing gaskets over the negative film to be pressed onto its mount and without disturbing the negative film in so positioning the squeegee thereover. In this connection, it is to be assumed that the film to be mounted is in its predetermined or registered position and location with reference to the mount which may be considered as indicated by the dotted line id of Figure 2 but which normally will be in horizontal position rather than vertical, as shown. When the air is exhausted from the work area or space beneath the supporting film A, it will be obvious that the latter will be flexed gently downwardly over the work area and thereby squeeze the negative film on its mount and smooth it out without danger of shifting its position, due to the uniform application of the pressure throughout the entire surface of the film being mounted.

To adapt the squeegee for use as a negative holder, the same has the supporting heavy film A extended downwardly below the rubber sealing gasket proper l0 and secured to such depending portion of the film A are two dowel bushings i5-|5, each of which is extended through the film and, preferably, has a fiange at its inner end and permanently secured to the film by ce ment or the like. The hollow extended outer end of each bushing is interiorly threaded to receive the shank of a cap screw it, as best shown in Figure 4. The dowel bushings I! are in predetermined location and position and constitute registering devices ccoperable with corresponding dowel openings il in an adapter bar ii. The latter, preferably of metal, may obviously be attached rigidly to the supporting film A by the cap screws l6 as shown in Figure 4.

The adapter bar I8 is, in turn, provided with additional registering devices in the form of two dowel pins l-l 9 secured thereto and which dowel pins are adapted to cooperate with corresponding register means in the form of dowel hole bushings 20-40 provided in the negative holder or carrier 2| constituting a part of the photo-composing machine. In the photo-composing machine, provision will be made for relative movement between the carrier 2i and the press plate support in two directions at right angles to each other and likewise, provision made for relative movement toward and from each other of the carrier 2| and press plate support. The carrier bar is suitably apertured, as indicated at 22, to accommodate the heads of the cap screw l6 and allow access thereto. Additionally, attaching screws for the adapter bar l8 will be provided as indicated at 23-23, the latter taking through the carrier 2| and threading into the adapter bar l8 so as to retain the latter securely in place when on the composing machine.

With the device constructed as described in combination with the adapter bar l8, it is obvious that the same may be used as a. negative holder in conjunction with a photo-composing machine. In such use, as indicated at 25, is applied to the back side of the supporting film A, being secured thereby by cement or dhesive tape or other suitable means. In this connection, the negative film 25 will be applied in registered position before the holder is used on the machine and when so applied it is evident that the squeegee holder whenbrought up against the sensitized press plate mounted on the press plate support, indicated by the dotted lines II and the air exhausted from beneath the film A, the negative film will be pressed into intimate contact with the sensitized press plate, at which time the proper exposure may then be made. Obviously, if the negative film 25 is first applied in predetermined registered position on the squeegee holder, the registered position with reference to the photocomposing machine will be maintained, since the squeegee holder is registered with reference to the adapter bar l8 and the latter, in turn, is registered with the carrier 2! of the photo-composing machine.

The negative film 25 may, of course, be a dry plate glass negative or paper negative without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For the larger size squeegee negative holders, it may be desirable to employ a relatively light metal frame in conjunction with the supporting film A, as shown in Figure 5, where such frame is indicated at 26. In this case, film A will preferably be cemented to the frame 26 and the supporting film A will be supplied with the same type of sealing gasket proper I III, channeled inner sealing gasket 21 l, suction hose connection I I3 and the registering devices (not shown) cooperable with the register bar H8 and the latter with registering devices (not shown) cooperable with the carrier l2! of the photo-composing machine. In certain instances, it may be desirable to replace the supporting film A of the the negative film, such the transparent Figure construction with a glass plate support in which case the flexible feature under sue-e tion is not availed of but nevertheless the necessary pressure in forcing the negative Ill against 5 the sensitized surface will be obtained when the air is exhausted from beneath the plate, it being understood that in this construction, as well as those previously specifically described, the rubber sealing gaskets will compress sumcient to permit of the necessary pressure application.

From the preceding description. it will be seen that the combination squeegee negative holder is of relatively light construction; may be easily handled without danger of breakage; allows of pre-registering oi the negative films when used as a negative holder; and is far less expensive in initial cost than holders now commonly employed in photo-composing.

What is now considered the preferred manner of carrying out the invention has herein been shown and described in detail but the same is by way of illustration and not by way of limitation,

since it is evident that various changes and modificationsmay be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. All changes and modifications are contemplated that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

l. A vacuum device of the character described comprising: a relatively heavy and semi-flexible film of sufilcient rigidity, per se, to maintain a planar condition; an air sealing gasket permanently affixed to one face thereof and extending therearound, the gasket and film thereby constituting a unitary member; and means for placing the space within the sealing gasket on the, same side of the film in connection with a source of suction.

2. A vacuum device of the character described comprising:' a relatively heavy transparent fiexible film; means for air sealingofl a central area of the film on one side thereof when placed in contact with another surface, said means being permanently afilxed to the film; and means providing communication between said sealed of! area and a source of suction.

3. A vacuum device of the character-described comprising; a relatively heavy but flexible film; an air sealing gasket permanently afilxed to one side thereof defining a central work area; and a hollow bushing permanently secured to the film and adapted for attachment of a suction line thereto on the side of the film opposite that of the gasket and so located as to permit withdrawal of air from the work area.

4. A combined squeegee and negative holder comprising: a flexible relatively heavy transparent film; means on one side thereof for air sealing oil a central area of the film when in contact with an opposed surface; means provid ing communication between said sealed off area and a source of suction; and register means on said film cooperable with corresponding register means of another member to adapt the film for use in a photographic printing apparatus in predetermined position and location with respect thereto.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a transparent fiexible film having means on one side thereof for air sealing off an area of the film; of an adapter having register means thereon cooperable with corresponding register means of a photographic printing the usual types of negative machine for mounting the adapter in mined position and location on the machine, and cooperable register means for the adapter and film for likewise attaching the film to the adapter in predetermined position and location.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a transparent, flexible, relatively heavy supporting film; of an air sealing gasket on one surface thereof and extending therearound to provide a central work area; an 'air exhaustlngconnection providing communication between said work area and a source of suction; an adapter bar; cooperable register means on said adapter bar and supporting film; and register means on said adapter bar adapted to cooperate with corresponding register means of a photographic printing machine part.

7. A device of the character described comprising: a transparent supporting member on one face of which is adapted to be mounted a printing element; air sealing means directly carried by said supporting member on that side on which the printing element is adapted to be attached; means providing for exhaust of air from the area enclosed by said sealing means; and register means on said supporting member adapted for cooperation with corresponding registermeans of another member to thereby adapt the device for use in a photographic printing machine.

8. A deviceof the character described comprising: a transparent supporting member 'to one face of which a printing element'is adapted to be secured in predetermined registered position; of a frame extending around the periphery of and directly secured to the opposite face of said member; an air sealing gasket extending around the periphery of said member on that face to which the printing element cured within the area defined by the gasket; means providing for exhaust of air from that face of the member within the area defined by the sealing gasket; and register devices carried by the frame and support adapted for cooperation with corresponding register devices of another member.

9. A vacuum actuated device of the character described comprising: a transparent, relatively heavy, fiexible supporting film; an air sealing gasket on one face thereof extending therearound and defining a work area therewithin; a hollow bushing extending through the film and providing communication between said work area and a source of suction; an adapter bar; cooperable dowel pin and dowel hole registering means on the film and bar; means for securing the supporting film and bar together when in registered relation; and register devices on the adapter bar for cooperation with corresponding register devices of a photo-composing machine part.

10.An adapter for interposition between a negative holder and a photo-composing machine, said adapter comprising a rigid member having two sets of registering devices tlfereon, one set being located for access on one side thereof for cooperation with corresponding cooperable registering devices of a negative holder, and the other set being located for access on the opposite sideof the adapter for cooperation with corresponding cooperable registering devices of a photo-composing machine part.

WILLIAM C. HUEBNER.

is adapted to be se- 

